THE Melbourne Tigers have boosted their chances of defending their NBL championship by signing former league MVP and Boomers star Sam Mackinnon.

Mackinnon injured his knee last season. The previous year he was named the league's best player when he led the now-defunct Brisbane Bullets to the championship.

He was also diagnosed with blood clots on his lungs this year, ruling him out of Australia's Olympic campaign, but he said yesterday that he was confident of being 100% fit by the start of the NBL season.

The 31-year-old, who started his career with the South East Melbourne Magic, before stints with Townsville, West Sydney and the Bullets, said he was happy to be heading home.

"It's been 10 years since I lived in Melbourne so it was an ideal opportunity following the situation with Brisbane," Mackinnon said.

Tigers coach Al Westover said Mackinnon would slot in to the team beautifully.

"For our team to include the last two seasons' league MVP winners in Chris Anstey and Sam Mackinnon, both of whom won the defensive player of the year award, right away we improve our defence and rebounding," Westover said.

"Mackinnon is a very good offensive player and a great passer as well as a great team guy."

AAP